Review: Porsche Panamera v Tesla Model S head-to-head

Review: Porsche Panamera v Tesla Model S head-to-head

Rob Adams - What Car

Published:6:00 amMay 25, 2017

Luxury hatchbacks that offer super pace but sensible running costs

Those who have made it may rightly want to treat themselves to a fancy machine that can do it all: look smart, go fast, yet still offer enough room for three passengers and their luggage. The two cars we’re testing here certainly do all that: both have premium badges, 0-60mph times of around four seconds but also have four doors and roomy hatchback boots.

They also won’t necessarily cost a fortune to run, despite their list prices of around £90,000. The routes they take are rather different though. The Porsche Panamera 4S Diesel has a big V8 oil-burner, while the Tesla Model S 90D has a zero-emissions all-electric drivetrain.

Driving experience

And although they’re surprisingly similarly matched in terms of acceleration, it’s the Tesla that often feels the faster, because its electric motors respond so instantly. The surge you feel when you press the accelerator is genuinely thrilling. It’s less impressive through corners though, and it’s here where the breeding of the Porsche comes to the fore.

The Panamera is simply on another level, with brilliant agility, never-ending grip and loads of feedback to engage the driver. Yet it does all this with a good ride quality too, proving smoother than the Model S’ easily-irritated suspension. Over broken surfaces, the difference between the two is stark.

The Telsa is very refined, mainly thanks to its vibration-free electric drivetrain. At all times, it’s quieter than the Porsche, whose eight-speed gearbox can also be jerky at low speeds, again in contrast to the super-silky Model S. Another big wow factor with the Tesla is its massive 17-inch central touchscreen, through which you mastermind virtually the entire car. It takes a bit of getting used to but is a real talking point.

Interior

The Porsche’s touchscreen is smaller but easier to navigate. It’s good to have physical controls for things like temperature control as well. And the Panamera’s build quality is truly top notch – the Tesla is plush, but there are some surprisingly wide gaps in places, and it doesn’t quite feel as premium as the Porsche.

Both are roomy inside; the Panamera can seat two in the rear and the Tesla can take three. They both have practical hatchback boots and the Tesla’s is the roomier of the two – and, as an added bonus, there’s an additional storage compartment in the front. You can also get the Model S as a seven-seater, although the chairs in the boot are tiny and only good for small children.

Running costs

Running costs are where the Tesla takes a big lead. You get a £4500 government grant with the Model S for starters, and it’s cheaper to tax. The Panamera is marginally cheaper to lease, but the Telsa is cheaper on a PCP scheme, despite retained values 14 per centbehind the Porsche. Where it really scores, though, is if you run one as a company car – drivers will save, get this, £27,674 in benefit-in-kind tax over three years. That’s an astonishing difference.

The electric Tesla is also cheaper to ‘fuel’: 250 miles of range costs £9 in electric, meaning it’s £1100 cheaper than the Porsche to drive for 12,000 miles. Weigh this up against the fact you can fill the Panamera, which should do around 35mpg, anywhere: you need to plug the Model S in.

For company car drivers, the appeal of the Tesla is obvious: it’s a genuine tax champion. It’s less good value for private buyers though, and it also doesn’t drive as well as the Porsche, nor feel as posh. This is why the Panamera ultimately aces it here – with its breathtaking range of abilities, we think it’s well worth the money, despite the hefty tax burden.